Kolkata: Questions are mounting over why the first information report (FIR) filed in the alleged rape case of a law college student in Kolkata mentioned only the initials of the three accused—despite their identities being known and their political affiliations widely reported.
The accused, Monojit Mishra, Jaib Ahmed, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, are reportedly affiliated with the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. However, the FIR registered in the case refers to them only as "M", "J", and "P", sparking criticism from legal experts and opposition leaders.
Senior advocate of the Calcutta High Court, Firdous Samim, questioned the police's decision, stating there was no legal or procedural justification for omitting the full names. "If the victim had clearly identified the accused, there is no reason for the police to use only initials. It is unlikely that she would not have named them, especially if she knew them personally," Samim said. He further noted that during the preliminary investigation, the police should have been able to verify the identities, making it ethically wrong to conceal the full names in the FIR.
Opposition leaders echoed similar concerns, alleging deliberate obfuscation. CPI(M) leader Shatarup Ghosh criticised the move, saying the police were obligated to record the full names and relevant details of the accused in the FIR. "This appears to be a clear attempt to downplay the political affiliations of the accused," he said.
BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh also claimed that the use of initials was intended to shield the accused due to their links with the ruling party’s student wing. "The intention is clear—to protect those with political connections," he alleged.
Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, a delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by member Archana Majumdar, visited the law college to survey the scene of the alleged crime. She is also scheduled to visit the residence of the victim later in the day.
In a related development, BJP state president and Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, who was arrested on Saturday while protesting against the incident, was released on Sunday morning from the Kolkata Police headquarters. Majumdar said he and others detained with him were made to wait on a bench through the night and were asked to sign a bail bond, which they refused. "We insisted on being produced before the court. However, this morning the police released us without any court appearance or signed bond," he said.
The incident has added fuel to the already tense political climate in the state, with opposition parties accusing the ruling establishment of shielding the accused and manipulating the legal process to limit damage. As the probe progresses, pressure is mounting on the authorities to ensure transparency and justice in the handling of the case.
With IANS inputs